Five Hitters to Help the Cleveland Guardians in 2026

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The Cleveland Guardians finished the 2025 postseason hitting .178 with an OPS of .575. For the full season, the team finished 29th out of 30 teams, with a .669 OPS. The offseason plan will be to somehow improve the offense, in any means possible.

The outfield is specifically the target area to improve, with the Guardians having an abundance of young players. George Valera, CJ Kayfus, Cooper Ingle, Angel Genao, Juan Brito, Alfonsin Rosario, and other players could be on the move for an established bat. Here are five players the Guardians could target this offseason.

Los Angeles Angels OF – Jo Adell

Adell was a former No. 6 overall prospect and had a rocky road to start his major league career, but broke out in 2025. The outfielder will be going into his age-27 season with two more years of control, and posted a slashline of .236/.293/.485 with an OPS of .778 and an OPS+ of 111. The Angels’ plan of contention is unclear, but after a solid year, the package in return may be hefty for a younger, proven right-handed bat.

Los Angeles Angels OF – Taylor Ward

Ward has been in trade talks for years, and yet, he still continues to produce for the Angels. The outfielder could slot into the gaping hole in right field in what will be his age-32 season in 2026. His age of 32 and projected 11.5 million in arbitration may make this trade less likely for the Guardians, but his .228/.317/.475 slashline with 36 homeruns and an OPS+ of 116 would significantly improve this lineup.

Pittsburgh Pirates OF – Bryan Reynolds

Reynolds has a big contract attached to his name, likely steering the front office away from this trade. However, his down 2025 season in which he posted a .720 OPS and 99 OPS+, and his remaining $75 million on his contract, the return package back to the Pirates would not be as significant as it would be for Adell or Ward. Reynolds, before 2025, had posted five seasons of above-average production, with his worst full season being an OPS+ of 111 and an OPS of .790.

Texas Rangers OF – Adolis Garcia

Garcia is another player who had a down 2025 season, in which he posted a slashline of .227/.271/.394 with an OPS of .665 and an OPS+ of 93. The Guardians would be hoping for a bounce back from Garcia, who will be entering his age-33 season in 2026. Before 2025, Garcia had posted three seasons from 2021-2023 with around 32 home runs per season and a .777 OPS. He has now posted two straight seasons of an OPS below .700, making him a prime non-tender candidate for the Texas Rangers. This would allow him to enter free agency, where the Guardians may be able to snag the outfielder for a one-year contract for around 8-10 million.

Free Agent DH – Kyle Schwarber

This one is a dream. Schwarber is coming off his best season of his career, where he slashed .240/.365/.563 with 56 home runs and an OPS of .928. This would force the Dolans to open up the checkbook, but his bat would undoubtedly make a huge difference in the Guardians’ lineup. Schwarber grew up in Ohio and has fond memories of Cleveland from the 2016 World Series. A significantly high AAV of around $30 million for a two or three-year deal may just be able to lure the slugger to Cleveland, but remember, this is just a wish.

About Post Author

Michael Bodzenta

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, I fell in love with sports from a young age. Whether I was playing them throughout high school or in the yard with my friends, I knew I had found something I loved. Watching them was also a main part of my childhood, as I could name almost every player on all three Cleveland sports teams. Talking about sports is something I can do for hours, so as I got older, I quickly realized that I knew what I wanted to do. I started writing about sports and talking about sports in high school. It was fun and easy for me. My dream goal would be to become baseball analyst, covering breaking news and other stories in the sport. I've written numerous articles about sports including the Browns and the Guardians. I currently write for Kent Wired, where I expanded my knowledge to cover Health and Fitness. I have experience with Adobe Photoshop, Premier, and Audition. I work as the social media manager/representative for the Kent State Club Baseball team creating graphics mostly on Instagram and some on Twitter (X) . The goal of this is to get more engagement for the team, create awareness, and raise money. I also currently coach for a 17u travel baseball organization (Midwest Stars) out of Hudson, Ohio. Through this I have been able to continue my love for the game, give back to the community, and strengthen my leadership qualities. My passion for sports especially baseball remains unquestioned and I strive to continue to report on something I love.

mbodzent@kent.edu

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